Summary
DespiteHarry Potterbeing all about magic, Harry himself isn’t seen performing an actual spell until the second book and film. However, it isn’t long before the Boy Who Lived’s true potential comes to light, as by his third year at Hogwarts, he is performing magic with great talent that goes well beyond his years and lack of education in the wizarding world.
Throughout theHarry Potterseries, the titular character, Harry Potter himself, is presented as one of themost powerful wizardsin the Wizarding World, and one whose skill will only grow through dedication, teachings, and perseverance. Harry masters some of the most complex spells and even indulges in darker forms of magic and unforgivable curses in dire situations. Harry Potter has used some powerful spells during his time at Hogwarts and as one of its prime defenders from the Dark Arts and Voldemort.
8Accio (The Summoning Charm)
After Struggling With The Spell, Harry Managed To Summon His Broom From A Great Distance In The First Task
Accio may not be considered a great feat of magic by many within the wizarding community, but Harry’s use of it during the first task ofthe Triwizard Tournamentwas simply phenomenal and allowed him to achieve an impressive score against the Hungarian Horntail.
He summoned his broom, without even being able to see it, all the way from the castle. This is much harder than summoning an object from across the room. Harry’s accomplishment is all the more impressive when readers of the books remember just how much he struggled with this particular spell. In the lead-up to the task, Hermione helped Harry practice the spell with cushions in unused classrooms and he only just got the hang of it.
7Wingardium Leviosa (The Levitation Charm)
Harry Kept His Sidecar From Falling While Trying To Escape Death Eaters
Wingardium Leviosais easily one of the most iconic spells inHarry Potter, mostly due to Hermione’s hilarious correction of Ron’s pronunciation. Despite the spell being used to take out a troll in the first book, the fact that first-years learn it can make the spell appear less powerful.
At the start of the last book, however, Harry proved just how powerful Wingardium Leviosa can be and it essentially saved his life. During the Battle of Seven Potters, Harry and Hagrid were attempting to escape the oncoming Death Eaters, when a stray spell hit Harry’s sidecar, separating it from Hagrid’s motorbike. As he began to fall toward the ground, Harry cast Wingardium Leviosa on the sidecar, keeping himself afloat. In the midst of the battle, the successful elevation of such a large, moving object is an impressive achievement.
6Reparo (The Mending Charm)
Harry Used The Elder Wand To Mend His Old Wand, Something That Can’t Be Done With Normal Wands
When wizards, witches, and muggles alike think about the most powerful spells inHarry Potter, Reparo, the Mending Charm, likely won’t come to mind. Most of the time, it used to repair Harry’s glasses, but there was one incredible use of it by Harry himself.
In the last book, Harry’s wand was broken during his and Hermione’s escape from Godric’s Hollow, and once broken in two, wands cannot be repaired with the Mending Charm by using another wand. However, after defeating Lord Voldemort, Harry performed one last great act withthe Elder Wand, by repairing his old wand. He then threw away the Elder Wand. Unfortunately, the movie did not depict this beautiful moment.
5Crucio (The Cruciatus Curse)
Out of pain and anger, Harry attempted to use the Cruciatus Curse twice before he finally succeeded. This is a dreadfully powerful spell that as evidenced by the tragic story of Neville’s parents, can cause people to completely lose their minds. His first two unsuccessful attempts at inflicting torture upon others, were as a result ofthe deaths of Sirius Blackand Albus Dumbledore, with the curse directed at their killers.
In the last book, however, and upon returning to Hogwarts, Harry learned that the new Dark Arts professor and Death Eater, Amycus Carrow, had been forcing his students to useCrucioon fellow children. When Harry later runs into Carrow in the Ravenclaw Tower, and Carrow happens to spit in the face of Professor McGonagall, Harry is finally able to successfully castCrucio, even slamming the Death Eater into the wall.
4Expelliarmus (The Disarming Charm)
Harry’s Signature Spell Which Helped Him Take Down Lord Voldemort
Ever since the second book when Professor Snape taught Harry the Disarming spell,Expelliarmus, it quickly became his go-to spell. However, despite being a fairly simple spell that second-years were expected to learn, Harry used it in much more powerful ways.
For example, whenever Harry and Voldemort would engage in duels and their wands would lockdue to their shared core, it was always withExpelliarmus. In fact, it was this very spell with which Harry finally took down the Dark Lord. Furthermore, the innate ability to relieve a witch or wizard of their wand can be seen as one of the most powerful and useful spells by itself, as it leaves them unable to use magic.
3Sectumsempra
Harry Nearly Killed Draco Malfoy With This Dangerous Spell
Despite all his positive qualities, there were numerous times throughout the series when Harry lost his anger. By far the worst example of this and likely the moment he regretted most, was when he used an unknown incantation on Draco Malfoy, almost killing him.
Harry had read about the spellSectumsemprain the Half-Blood Prince’s potions textbook and knew it was a spell to use on enemies. However, if he had known how powerful it was and how it lacerates the target causing them to possibly bleed to death, Harry surely would not have used it. Unfortunately, this is just one of manydangerous spells in the wizarding world.
2Expecto Patronus (The Patronus Charm)
Harry Protected Himself & Others From Dementors On Countless Occasions
In Harry’s third year at Hogwarts, Dementors were stationed around the school grounds in response tothe escape of supposed mass murderer Sirius Black. These Dementors were particularly drawn to Harry and, due to the pain in his past, affected him more than others.
In light of this, Professor Lupin decided to try and teach Harry an extremely complex spell that could repel these dark creatures - the Patronus Charm. Despite the spell being well beyond the expected capabilities of a third-year student, Harry eventually succeeded. When the time for heroics came, he produceda truly remarkable Patronuswith such power that a whole horde of Dementors was forced back. Throughout the rest of the series, Harry further solidified his use ofExpecto Patronus, with it becoming one of his most iconic spells.
1Imperio (The Imperius Curse)
Harry Forced The Goblins Of Gringotts To Let Them Through
In Dumbledore’s youth, he and his close friend Gellert Grindelwald coined the phrase ‘for the greater good,’ and while Harry disagreed with this, there were a few occasions when Harry resorted to darker forms of magic in order to eventually put a stop to Lord Voldemort.
For example, to gain entry to Gringotts Bank and destroy one of Lord Voldemort’s last remaining Horcruxes, Harry had to use the Imperius Curse on a goblin employee Bogrod, and a Death Eater named Travers. This extremely powerful spell,an Unforgivable Curse, in fact, was used to force these two individuals to do Harry’s bidding, and at the very least not expose the heist.
